Details
Movie Description
With the release of Robert Altman's M*A*S*H in 1970, a new form of comedy was born, one that would help to forever change the face of cinema. Altman's audacious film reflected the American counterculture's growing distrust of religion and government in the late 1960s and early 1970s, resulting in one of the biggest box office smashes of its time. Introducing the techniques he would employ throughout his storied career--overlapping dialogue, a constantly moving camera with a heavy amount of zooming, and a bold combination of frank subject matter with cynical humor--Altman immediately vaulted himself to Hollywood's upper ranks. Based on the novel by Richard Hooker, M*A*S*H follows a group of Mobile Army Surgical Hospital officers as they perform surgery and pass the time just miles from the front lines of the Korean conflict. Led by sardonic captains "Hawkeye" Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and "Trapper" John McIntyre (Elliott Gould), the film has the feel of an absurd three-ring circus. Other characters include the uptight nurse "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), the confused Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), the troubled Captain "Painless" Waldowski (John Shuck), and the simpleminded Captain "Duke" Forrest (Tom Skerritt). Altman's decision to present his film as a series of loosely connected vignettes rather than a traditionally unfolding narrative perfectly captures the freewheeling spirit so unique to early-'70s cinema.
Synopsis
With the release of Robert Altman's M*A*S*H in 1970, a new form of comedy was brought to the big screen that would forever change the face of cinema. Based on the novel by Richard Hooker, M*A*S*H follows a group of Mobile Army Surgical Hospital officers as they perform surgery and pass the time just miles from the front lines of the Korean Conflict. Led by the sardonic Captains "Hawkeye" Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and "Trapper" John McIntyre (Elliott Gould), the film has the feel of an absurd three-ring circus, and is composed of a series of vignettes rather than a traditionally unfolding narrative. Thrown into the mix are the religious Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), Captain "Duke" Forest (Tom Skerritt), Father "Dago Red" Mulcahy (Rene Auberjonois), Captain "Painless" Walt Waldowski (John Schuck), and many more. Altman's insistence on overlapping characters' dialogue, photographing the film with fog filters and sloppy zooms, and frank combination of jarringly graphic surgery footage with cynical humor resulted in a timeless comedy that reflects the American counterculture's growing distrust of religion and government in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Politics aside, M*A*S*H remains a brutal and hysterically-toned motion picture that skyrocketed Altman to the upper ranks of Hollywood directors, after decades of working in documentaries and television.
Film Notes
Theatrical release: January 25, 1970.
M*A*S*H was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1996.
The film is based on a series of novels by the pseudonymous Dr. Richard Hooker, a real doctor whose tour of duty in Korea served as the basis for the books.
Robert Altman was the 15th choice as director for the film.
At the time of the film's release, M*A*S*H became the 10th highest-grossing film of all time, a feat made all the more impressive because of its low budget.
Altman recruited his teenage son, Mike, to write the lyrics for the film’s theme song, "Suicide Is Painless."
The television spin-off was a critical and commercial success for 11 seasons on CBS. However, the series was even further removed from the original source material than the movie was.
Gary Burghoff reprised his role as Radar O'Reilly on the TV series; he was the only actor from the movie to do so.
Industry Reviews
"...[An] inspired, skittish conflict comedy....Subtle, underplayed and poignant..."
Total Film - Daniel Webb (07/01/2003)
"M*A*S*H* is still funny..." -- Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly - Ken Tucker (04/21/2006)
"[I]t still boasts a splendid ensemble...[and] a breezy antiestablishment attitude..."
Premiere - Premiere Staff (08/01/2006)
Quotations
"I wonder how a degenerate person like you could have reached a position of responsibility in the Army Medical Corps."--Hot Lips (Sally Kellerman) to Dago Red (Rene Auberjonois)
"He was drafted."--Dago Red's reply to Hot Lips
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